--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How could they tell? (on being told that…" description: "\"How could they tell? (on being told that Calvin Coolidge was dead)\" — Dorothy Parker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/dorothy-parker-700_dead_how-could-they-tell-on-being-told-that-c_2579261.jpg" --- # How could they tell? (on being told that Calvin Coolidge… ![“How could they tell? (on being told that Calvin Coolidge was dead)” quote by Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/dorothy-parker-700_dead_how-could-they-tell-on-being-told-that-c_2579261.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/dorothy-parker-700_dead_how-could-they-tell-on-being-told-that-c_2579261.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/dorothy-parker-700_dead_how-could-they-tell-on-being-told-that-c_2579261.jpg) > “How could they tell? (on being told that Calvin Coolidge was dead)” [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker questions how anyone could know the truth about a public figure’s death. **In simple terms:** Questioning knowledge about a death. Key Takeaway Seek evidence before assuming. Themes skepticism truth death Mood inquisitive skeptical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - news consumption - historical research - personal belief Key Concepts epistemology media literacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify facts? - What sources do you trust? A Different Perspective Information can be unreliable or incomplete. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) [Sarcasm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sarcasm/) ## Related quotes > [ \[On hearing that President Coolidge was dead:\] How can you tell? ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/on-hearing-that-president-coolidge-was-dead-how-can-you-tell/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [On being told of the death of former President Calvin Coolidge: How could they tell?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/on-being-told-of-the-death-of-former-president-calvin-coolidge-how/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [The first time I ever came to Washington was to visit Calvin Coolidge in the White House with my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dellinger/the-first-time-i-ever-came-to-washington-was-to-visit-calvin-coolidge/) [David Dellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dellinger/) > [In a way, Calvin Coolidge is better than Reagan. His tax rates were lower, and he cut budgets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/in-a-way-calvin-coolidge-is-better-than-reagan-his-tax-rates-were/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [The good people of Dakota offered to give Calvin Coolidge a farm if he would live on it. I wouldn't advise you to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/the-good-people-of-dakota-offered-to-give-calvin-coolidge-a-farm-if/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [ He \[Calvin Coolidge\] is the first president to discover that what the American people want is to be left alone. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/he-calvin-coolidge-is-the-first-president-to-discover-that-what-the/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [Why, I make more money than-than-than Calvin Coolidge, put together!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hagen/why-i-make-more-money-than-than-than-calvin-coolidge-put-together/) Jean Hagen > [“After Harding's death, the taciturn vice president, Calvin Coolidge, moved into the White House. In contrast to his predecessor's political cronyism and outgoing style,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-henretta/after-harding-s-death-the-taciturn-vice-president-calvin-coolidge/) James A. Henretta > [Calvin Coolidge was one of the best presidents. Why? Because he did absolutely nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/calvin-coolidge-was-one-of-the-best-presidents-why-because-he-did/) [Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/) > [Calvin Coolidge was the greatest man who ever came out of Plymouth Corner, Vermont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/calvin-coolidge-was-the-greatest-man-who-ever-came-out-of-plymouth/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [“The business of America is business,’ said Calvin Coolidge”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-brogan/the-business-of-america-is-business-said-calvin-coolidge/) [Hugh Brogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-brogan/) > [The most remarkable thing about Calvin Coolidge is that he served for 67 months, and when he left office, the budget was lower than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/the-most-remarkable-thing-about-calvin-coolidge-is-that-he-served-for/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [“Upon hearing that Coolidge was dead, the writer Dorothy Parker cracked, “How can you tell?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brady-carlson/upon-hearing-that-coolidge-was-dead-the-writer-dorothy-parker-cracked/) [Brady Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brady-carlson/) > [“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michal-stawicki/nothing-in-this-world-can-take-the-place-of-persistence-talent-will/) Michal Stawicki > [Some of the offers that have come to me would never have come if I had not been President. That means these people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/some-of-the-offers-that-have-come-to-me-would-never-have-come-if-i/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) ## More by Dorothy Parker > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [Writing is the art of applying the ass to the seat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/writing-is-the-art-of-applying-the-ass-to-the-seat/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [Hollywood is the one place on earth where you could die of encouragement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/hollywood-is-the-one-place-on-earth-where-you-could-die-of/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [“The two most beautiful words in the English language are 'check enclosed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/the-two-most-beautiful-words-in-the-english-language-are-check/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [Sometimes I think Ill give up trying, and just go completely Russian and sit on a stove and moan all day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/sometimes-i-think-ill-give-up-trying-and-just-go-completely-russian/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [I was always sweet, at first. Oh, it's so easy to be sweet to people before you love them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/i-was-always-sweet-at-first-oh-it-s-so-easy-to-be-sweet-to-people/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [Now to me, Edith looks like something that would eat her young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/now-to-me-edith-looks-like-something-that-would-eat-her-young/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [Misfortune, and recited misfortune especially, can be prolonged to the point where it ceases to excite pity and arouses only irritation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/misfortune-and-recited-misfortune-especially-can-be-prolonged-to-the/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [The sun's gone dim, and the moon's gone black. For I loved him, and he didn't love back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/the-sun-s-gone-dim-and-the-moon-s-gone-black-for-i-loved-him-and-he/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [There's a hell of a distance between wisecracking and wit. Wit has truth in it; wisecracking is simply calisthenics with words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-a-hell-of-a-distance-between-wisecracking-and-wit-wit-has/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song, A medley of extemporanea; And love is a thing that can never go wrong; And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/oh-life-is-a-glorious-cycle-of-song-a-medley-of-extemporanea-and-love/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [Enjoyed it! One more drink and I'd have been under the host.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/enjoyed-it-one-more-drink-and-i-d-have-been-under-the-host/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [This living, this living, this living Was never a project of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/this-living-this-living-this-living-was-never-a-project-of-mine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [Flowers are heaven's masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/flowers-are-heaven-s-masterpiece/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [It costs me never a stab nor squirm / To tread by chance upon a worm. / Aha, my little dear, / I say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/it-costs-me-never-a-stab-nor-squirm-to-tread-by-chance-upon-a-worm/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) [Explore all 398 Dorothy Parker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) ## More Dead quotes > [I'm going to stay on stage until I drop dead. Then I'm going to have myself stuffed, like Trigger, and I'm going to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/i-m-going-to-stay-on-stage-until-i-drop-dead-then-i-m-going-to-have/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [I can't be a legend yet. I'm not dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-can-t-be-a-legend-yet-i-m-not-dead/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [It's a really dark, emotionally wrenching world that we've created on 'The Walking Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/it-s-a-really-dark-emotionally-wrenching-world-that-we-ve-created-on/) [Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I’m just–” She wanted to say “not in the mood,” but that was not only a cliché but a vast understatement. She was dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-mcintosh/i-m-just-she-wanted-to-say-not-in-the-mood-but-that-was-not-only-a/) [Will McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-mcintosh/) > [Library: A place where the dead lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/library-a-place-where-the-dead-lie/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [When we dead awaken ... we see that we have never lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/when-we-dead-awaken-we-see-that-we-have-never-lived/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [Rather be dead than cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/rather-be-dead-than-cool/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [He was obviously dead. But since he was a vampire that wasn't as hopless a thing as it might have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/he-was-obviously-dead-but-since-he-was-a-vampire-that-wasn-t-as/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I intend to do the Penn & Teller show until they pry my cheesy magic wand from my cold dead fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-intend-to-do-the-penn-teller-show-until-they-pry-my-cheesy-magic/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > ['Misery' left a lasting mark on me. When I die, it will be 'Kathy 'Misery' Bates Is Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/misery-left-a-lasting-mark-on-me-when-i-die-it-will-be-kathy-misery/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [The only good Indian is a dead Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/the-only-good-indian-is-a-dead-indian/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) Browse all 3,376 Dead quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How could they tell? 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